Regulation of CCN2/Connective tissue growth factor expression in the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc: Role of Smad and activator protein 1 signaling

Abstract

TGFbeta, through Smad3 and AP-1, serves as a positive regulator of CTGF expression in the nucleus pulposus. We propose that CTGF is a part of the limited reparative response of the degenerated disc.